Never ending MTB discussions: Clipless vs Platform
One of the most important things in mountain biking is being connected to the bike. The trail riding experience depends on how connected you are to the bike as you maneuver the turns and jump over logs. Yet there are some people in the mountain bike world that don't use them. They prefer to have platforms. For example, Ryan Leech and Danny MacAskill are both perfect examples of riders who seem to have their feet glue to the pedals and they ride platforms. What should you use?
First you have to understand why people use platforms in the first place. Some people such Danny have to use them because they need to have the ability to bail out of the bike if something goes wrong. For example, if they are dropping off and something happens they can just kick the bike away.
However, trail riding for most people is about speed not accuracy. So a discipline that is similar to XC racing and you still want to be able to bail out will be downhill racing. You are racing for half a second or less than that. There's a lot of jumping and drops where at any point you could use the same ability to let go of the bike. More and more racers have chosen to start riding clipless pedals. Now think about it for a second. A downhill race is mostly done on tracks where you are going down such a steep trail that pedaling is not even needed. There has to be an advantage why a racer would choose to do that. Another discipline where more people are using clipless pedals is 4x cross races and the new World Cup Eliminator races. So there is definitely an advantage to wearing clips whether you appreciate having the freedom to bail out.
I think what is beautiful about mountain biking is that it is an individual sport. You can choose to ride whatever you want as long you want without affecting everyone else. But is obvious wearing clip ons shoes has its advantages.
First you have to understand why people use platforms in the first place. Some people such Danny have to use them because they need to have the ability to bail out of the bike if something goes wrong. For example, if they are dropping off and something happens they can just kick the bike away.
However, trail riding for most people is about speed not accuracy. So a discipline that is similar to XC racing and you still want to be able to bail out will be downhill racing. You are racing for half a second or less than that. There's a lot of jumping and drops where at any point you could use the same ability to let go of the bike. More and more racers have chosen to start riding clipless pedals. Now think about it for a second. A downhill race is mostly done on tracks where you are going down such a steep trail that pedaling is not even needed. There has to be an advantage why a racer would choose to do that. Another discipline where more people are using clipless pedals is 4x cross races and the new World Cup Eliminator races. So there is definitely an advantage to wearing clips whether you appreciate having the freedom to bail out.
I think what is beautiful about mountain biking is that it is an individual sport. You can choose to ride whatever you want as long you want without affecting everyone else. But is obvious wearing clip ons shoes has its advantages.
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